CIGI Durum Tour Visits SPARC Station

Farmers have had some top quality scientists working to improve their options when it comes to Durum Production.

Last week's CIGI Durum tour gave some of our International Customers an opportunity to learn more about the attributes and development of Canadian Durum varieties.

The group made a stop at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's SPARC station in Saskatchewan for discussion about the development of popular varieties like Strongfield which was developed by Dr. John Clarke to meet customer requirements for lower cadmium content:

"In addition Strongfield had the high protein, high pigment and stronger gluten. It really represented a major shift in the quality attributes built into a very good agronomic package, and Strongfield then went on to dominate the prairie durum area from 2007 to pretty much the current time." Dr. Depauw explained.

He also talked about two new varieties developed under Dr Danny Singh's Program with key production traits:

"One was the solid stem trait to confer resistance to the wheat stem sawfly. The name of that variety is AC Raymore. It will be coming out for launch in 2015. He also built AAC Marchwell which offers durum growers tolerance to the orange wheat blossom midge. That should be available for launch in 2016." said Depauw.

Danny Singh has since moved on to work in the US. SPARC'S Durum Breeding Program at SPARC is now being taken over by Dr Ruan who just recently moved to Swift Current after working at the U of S Crop Development Centre.

Source: PortageOnline